The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1887-02-23


1t was broken only by Zenobia rising ant
holding out her hand. AShaker"
Hale raised it gallantly and pressed his lip
on the one spotless finger.
"That's gospel truth. And you amt tht
first white man to say it."
"Indeed," laughed Hale "Who was ths
otherT
George Loci"
! CHAPTER VI
The laughter that followed was interrupted
by sudden barking Of the dogs in the outer
clearing. Zenobia rose lazily and strods to
the window. It relieved Hale Of csrtain
embarrassing reflections suggested by her
comment
"If 1t amt that God -forsaken fool Dick
bringing up passengers from the snow bound
up stage In the roadl / reckon I've got
suthin' to say to thatT But the later appear
ance Of the apologetic Dick, with the assur-
suce that the party carried permission from
her father, granted at the lower station in
view Of such an emergency, checked her &C.
tive opposition. That's like paw, she solilo-
quized aggrievedly; "shuttin' us up ard SET
tin the dogs on everybody for week, and
then letting the whole stage service pass
through one door and out at another. Well,
it's his house and his whisky, and they kin
take IT, but they don't get me to help 'emn
They certainly were not progressing or
good natured acquisition to the party. Apart
from the natural antagonism which, on such
occasions, those in possession always feel
toward the new conner, they were strongly
inclined to resist the dissatisfied qusrulous-
ness and aggressive attitude Of these fresh
applicants for hospitality. The most offensive
one WINS person who appeared to exercise
some authority over the others He was loud,
assuming and dressed with vulgar preten-
sion. He quickly disposed himself in the
chair vacated by Zenobia, and called for
some liquor.
II reckon you'll hev to help yourself" said
Rawlins dryly, as the summons met with no
response. "There ere only two women in
the house, and reckon their hands are full
already"
II call IL d-d uncivil treatment said
the man, raising his voice; Iand Hennicker
had better sing smaller il he don't want bis
cid den pulled down some day. He amt any
better than men that hev been picked up
afore now."
3You oughter told him that, and mebbe
he'd hev come over with YER" returned Raw
hns. "Hes mild, soft, easy going man, is
Hennickerl Amt he, Col Clinchr
The casual mention Of Clinch's name pro-
duced the effect which the speaker probably
intended. The stranger stared at Clinch,
who, apparently oblivious Of the conversa-
tion, was blinking his cold, gray eyes at the
fire. Dropping his aggressive tone to mere
querulousness, the man sought the whisky |
demijohn, and helped himself and his COM
panions. Fortified by liquor he returned to
the fire.
u reckon you've heard about this yer rob-
berry, colonel" be said, addressing Clinch,
with an attempt at easy familiarity.
Without raising his eyes from the fire
Clinch briefly assented, II reckon"
am up yer examining into IL for the ex.
prestn
aLost muchF asked Rawlins.
aNot 20 much ez they might hev. That
fool Harkins had 100000 in gresnbacks
sealed up like an ordinary package Of q, 900,
and gave 1t to friend, Bill Guthrie, in the
bank to pick cut some unlikely chap among
the passengers to take charge Of it to Reno.
He vn,-ii-'t t-.---t ~ asEErsss Hal haIn -
The dead, oppressive silence rnar ronowed
his empty laughter made It seem almost arti.
fetal. Rawiins held his breath and looked
at Clinch Hale, with the instincts of re-
fined, sensitive man, turned hot with the
Clinch should have shown.
For that gentleman, without lifting his eyes
from the fire, and with no apparent change
In his demeanor, laxily asked:
@Ye didn't keteh the name o that passen.
grp
aNaturally, mol For when Guthrie hears
what was said agin him be wouldn't give his
name until he heard from him"
Sand what was said agin himl" asked
1inch musingiy.
3What would be said agin man that give
p that sum o. money, Like chaw Of to-
acco, for the askingi Why. there were but
hrse men, as far ez we Kin hear, that did the
Oh. And there were four passengers inside,
rmed, and the driver and express messenger
n the box. Six were robbed by threel-thsy Z
Eere sweet scented lott Reckon they must {
ev felt mighty small, for hear they got up
~ .Asoaoo'eo nom tne station under the
..A. "okin Ior the roboers" He
.usnsu yam. ano me laugh was noisily re-
eu ~ ms nVe companions af the other
~ ~, ~ 'os room.
e, VIZ nau ioleoe'en enas tne stranger
! =. my 1onoins pars OF DIS own criticism
sa. nvuis oelose', was on the point OF
...s. s "'1, o,ns enseRs and angry indig- !
ation' when sthe lazly uplifted eye Of {
i.ncn causn' nis' and absolutely held him Q
'"n ".n ''s paraiy1ng and deadly signia- ?
me- murder ,'seif seemed to look from
~. efueiy qu'ss and rsmorselass gray
lpna TOT : moment he forgot his own b
'xe IN tnis ghmpse OF Chnch's implacabls b
,s.n.nens' ~ 'or moment he felt a thrill Of L
~ = .os sne wresen who had provoked it. 9
g Ieh'ahed motioniess and fascinated In a
~ s'~m ~, As 1ne ia1y mos closed like sheath
.s,.n,. !, ons $500 sye asah hawiins' who bad .
o'aDy y ,eos'ved .ne same glance Of warn Z.
4, Sr' ,eu eqasny stn- q
ney naVent neard the last Of IL yct, you u
~ cOntlnu0d Ln6 infatuated HtranOar q